Game apparatus comprising successively playable goals with ball transfer means therebetween



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

B. M CLUNG COMPRISING SUCCESSIVELY PLAYAB GOALS WITH BALL TRANSFER Filed Nov. 26, 1962 GAME APPARATUS Aug. 25, 1964 %%aij- Aug. 25, 1964 B, MOCLUNG 3,145,992

GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCCESSIVELY PLAYABLE GOALS WITH BALL TRANSFER MEANS THEREBETWEEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1962 fag 5 United States Patent GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCCESSIVELY PLAYABLE GOALS WITH BALL TRANSFER MEANS THEREBETWEEN Miley Eurdette McClung, Box 13, Hines, W. Va., assignor of one-third to E. G. Hawn, Watertown, N.Y. Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 239,930 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-105) The present invention relates to a game apparatus in which a ball is thrown or cast into an overhead receptacle or basket.

An object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus for recreational and exercise use, the game apparatus having means for improving the throwing coordination of a player, increasing the players ability to run and turn, providing means for interesting and competitive play between children or adults, and one which is highly effective in action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus which may be constructed in such sizes as to accommodate one or a few, or a relatively great number of players simultaneously, one which is inexpensive to construct and maintain, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a portion of the game apparatus according to the present invention shown in a position of use with a person casting a ball into the basket of the game apparatus,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section and on an enlarged scale, showing the mounting means for the post of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view partially in section showing the upper end of the post and means of attachment of the tube,

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3, the dotted line showing indicating the adjustable mounting of the tube,

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, showing the adjustable mounting and taken at ninety degrees to FIG- URE 3, and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the apparatus showing by arrows, the movement of a ball as thrown and played by a player through the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the game apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of posts 10 arranged in a line and in side by side spaced relation as shown in FIGURE 6. Each post 10 has its lower end rising from a ground surface and secured thereto by means of a mounting block 12 sunk into the ground surface 14 and having a standard 16 incorporated therein, the post 10 being provided with a bore 18 receiving the standard 16 with a. set screw 20 threadedly mounted in the lower end portion of the post It) and engageable with the upper end portion of the standard 16, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2.

An open ended tube 22 narrower at one end 24 than at the other end 26 is arranged substantially transversely with respect to each of the posts 10 inwardly of and adjacent the upper end of the posts 10 with the narrow end 24 disposed somewhat or slightly lower than the end 26 so that a ball within the tube 22 will roll from the end 26 toward the end 24 to be discharged from the latter.

Means is provided by the present invention for adjustably securing each of the tubes 22 to the adjacent post 1.0. Specifically, this means consists in an upright plate 28 adjustably connected to the post 10 by means of bolt and nut assemblies 30 and holes 32 arranged in spaced relation in the plate 28 and other holes 34 arranged in identical spaced relation in the post 10.

Each tube 22 is secured to its associated post 10 by welding as at 36 in FIGURE 3.

A bottomless basket 38, shaped somewhat at an angle and tapering in diameter from the upper end to the lower end, has its lower end secured to the end 26 of the tube 22 and with the interior of the basket 38 connected in communication with the interior of the tube 22.

In use, a supply of balls 40 are kept in a box 42 handy to the line of posts 10 and a player, as at 44 in FIGURE 1, may take each ball 40 in turn and throw the same into the basket 38 on one end of the line of posts 10. Then, by zigzag running between the posts from one end of the line of posts to the other, the player 44 may attempt to catch each ball 40 as it leaves the narrow end of each tube 22 and to throw the same into the adjacent basket 33 before continuing toward and around the next post.

It will be apparent that many rules of play may be instituted and more than one player or several players may form a competitive game using the game apparatus according to the present invention. The adjustability of the plate 28 upwardly or downwardly on the upper end portion of the posts 10 permits the game apparatus of the present invention to be adaptable for players of all sizes.

Also, as shown in FIGURE 4, the angularity of the tube 22 with respect to the ground surface 14 may be adjusted by swinging the plate 28 and using one of the three holes 32 in the lower end of the plate 28 so that the plate 28 may be swung from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 4, thus changing the angularity of the tube 22.

The change of angularity of the tube 22 will result in the increase or decrease in the speed of the ball 40 as it travels from the end 26 to the end 24 of the tube 22.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the standards 16 so that each post 10 may be adjusted with respect to its base 12 in order to shift the tubes 22 from the positions in which the discharge end 24 is closer to one of the baskets 38 and to the basket 38 on the next adjacent post It). By adjusting the tubes 22 on the posts 10 and also by adjusting the posts 10 relative to their bases 12, many combinations of play may be formulated and the appropriate rules for such play adopted by a person or a group of persons employing the apparatus of the present invention.

While only a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it is contemplated that more than one form of the invention may be manufactured and employed within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus, a plurality of posts arranged in side by side spaced relation and each rising from a ground surface, an open ended tube arranged substantially transversely with respect to each of said posts adjacent the upper end thereof with one end of said tube lower than the other end, means securing each tube to the adjacent post, a bottomless basket carried by the upper end of each of said tubes and in communication therewith, the tube of one post being arranged so that the lower end is adjacent to and spaced from the basket of the adjacent post, said baskets being adapted to receive in turn a ball thrown by a player running Zigzag between said posts, each of said tubes being adapted to convey the ball for discharge from the lower end when received in the associated basket.

2. In a game apparatus, a plurality of posts arranged in side by side spaced relation and each rising from a ground surface, an open ended tube arranged substantially transversely with respect to each of said posts adjacent the upper end thereof with one end of said tube lower than the other end, means securing each tube to the adjacent post, a bottomless basket carried by the upper end of each of said tubes and in communication therewith, the tube of one post being arranged so that the lower end is closer to the basket of one adjacent post on one side than to the basket of the adjacent post on the other side, said baskets being adapted to receive in turn a ball thrown by a player running zigzag between said posts, each of said tubes being adapted to convey the ball for discharge from the lower end when received in the associated basket.

3. In a game apparatus, a plurality of posts arranged in a line in side by side spaced relation and each rising from a ground surface, an open ended tube arranged substantially transversely with respect to each of said posts adjacent the upper end thereof with one end of said tube lower than the other end, means securing each tube to the adjacent post, a bottomless basket carried by the upper end of each of said tubes and in communication therewith, the tube of one post being arranged so that the lower end is adjacent to and spaced from the basket of the adjacent post, said baskets being adapted to receive in turn a ball thrown by a player running zigzag between .said posts from one end of the line of posts to the other,

each of said tubes being adapted to convey the ball for discharge from the lower end when received in the associated basket.

4. In a game apparatus, a plurality of posts arranged in side by side spaced relation and each rising from a ground surface, an open ended tube arranged substantially transversely with respect to each of said posts adjacent the upper end thereof with one end of said tube lower than the other end, means adjustably securing each tube to the adjacent post, a bottomless basket carried by the upper end of each of said tubes and in communication therewith, the tube of one post being arranged so that the lower end is closer to the basket of one adjacent post on one side than to the basket of the adjacent post on the other side, said baskets being adapted to receive in turn a ball thrown by a player running zigzag between said posts, each of said tubes being adapted to convey the ball for discharge from the lower end when received in the associated basket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A GAME APPARATUS, A PLURALITY OF POSTS ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE SPACED RELATION AND EACH RISING FROM A GROUND SURFACE, AN OPEN ENDED TUBE ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF SAID POSTS ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF WITH ONE END OF SAID TUBE LOWER THAN THE OTHER END, MEANS SECURING EACH TUBE TO THE ADJACENT POST, A BOTTOMLESS BASKET CARRIED BY THE UPPER END OF EACH OF SAID TUBES AND IN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, THE TUBE OF ONE POST BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE LOWER END IS ADJACENT TO AND SPACED FROM THE BASKET OF THE ADJACENT POST, SAID BASKETS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE IN TURN A BALL THROWN BY A PLAYER RUNNING ZIGZAG BETWEEN SAID POSTS, EACH OF SAID TUBES BEING ADAPTED TO CONVEY THE BALL FOR DISCHARGE FROM THE LOWER END WHEN RECEIVED IN THE ASSOCIATED BASKET. 